Always In A Million Years

12

I want to dedicate this chapter to daliyamuala. She is such a sweetheart. She doesn't know but her comments on my story had made my day. Not just that, it motivated me to continue writing and try to update soon. This chapter is for you daliyamuala
Guys, do check out her books. She is an amazing author too, you will love them.

[Dress Hera wears to the fundraiser, at top]

Hera McQueen

I looked myself in the mirror, Daisy had again done her magic. I was wearing an off-shoulder floor-length dress, a black laced corset followed by an emerald skirt with a high slit on the side. The make-up was minimum, the eye makeup and lipstick did all the work. My hair was pulled in an elegant bun leaving a strand on side of my face. I paired it with a pair of diamond earrings, and emerald ring I had. 

It was the day of the fundraiser, and Zach said he would pick me up at 7. I unlocked my phone and saw it was half-past 6. 

To knock around, I turned off the main light and left chandelier on, the rest of the darkness in the room was filled with dusk light from the window. I turned on my playlist, as I poured a glass of wine from the minibar. It felt like ages, since I had this mini-break for myself, doing nothing in particular. Usually, my mind always runs back to work or in analyzing the random cases happening around the world. But now, I was in a moment enjoying my company. Loving yourself and being comfortable with my own skin and personality wasn't hard learning for me, but maintaining it for long is tough. Sometimes, I felt a little melancholy, when entering the empty house after work.

'For God's sake! I'm just 24.' 

Hardly minutes had passed when there was a knock on my door. Answering it, I saw Zac standing with his signature smile. He was wearing a black tuxedo with a dark green tie. He had neatly settled his hair back and the beard he has kept on his face. He look hot.

And no, we didn't color code this time. The fundraiser had already set green and blue as a dress code for the event as it is about climate change.

Zac's eyes traveled down to my floor-length dress and back to my eyes. His fierce gaze was sending tingles down my body. 

"You look breathtaking, Hera!" He said in a low voice, I hold my breath as he bends a little and kissed my cheeks. Heat crept up my face with his action, "Thank you, You look handsome too." I managed to reply, mentally kicking myself to get affected by his mere presence. 

"I see you already started your mini party." He commented, looking past my shoulder towards the living room.

"Come in," I stepped back a little, giving him space to enter. "I had a few minutes to kill, Would you like something to drink?" I asked. 

"I will have whatever you are having." I turned on the lights placed on the roof of the minibar and poured him his drink. "You got a nice home." He commented as his eyes traveled around the house and fixed on the wall of frame, that was beside the bar. 

In the middle of the wall, is the family photo, it was taken last Christmas. The only family photo that truly portrayed the mixture of love, goofiness, and perfectly imperfect people of McQueen. In middle were my grandparents they were sitting on the chair with their hand clasped, usually you will find them glaring at the camera, but in this, grandpa was looking at his wife with adoration as she played with Nate hair, Ryder's son of 3 years, who was sitting on her lap. On his right, is my parents and Dylan, they stand tall with dad hands around my mother's waist, as both the men kissed my mother's cheeks. On grandma's left are Ryder, Tyler, and me. Ryder had Tyler in a headlock and was grinning while I stood there laughing at Tyler's struggle. Then there are two very furry dogs, Rufus and Waffles. They are the only one who was looking presentable in this photo. 

The rest of the wall had photos from random places I traveled either with family, Marcus, or Kailey. The graduate degree was also framed proudly on the wall. This wall runs down to every memorable moment in my life.

"I don't know if you remember this," I said, as I gave the wine glass to Zac, "This picture was taken when we  went on a trip to Disneyland." I pointed at the photo frame at the corner. Deighton, Kushner, and my family along with Marcus and Ali went to Tokyo. Our fathers were having some business back then and it so happened that Zac's mom was having some fashion show over there. So they decided to have a family trip and visit the city. This is a group photo of all the kids back fifteen years.  

"How could I forget that trip, you and Lexi nearly woke everyone on that hotel floor with all that screaming when you saw the clown faces." I scowled remembering that particular incident. All the boys and Ali gang upon us. They brought some stupid scary face mask from Disneyland and thought it would be hilarious to scare the shit out of nine-year-old girls.

"I think you are mistaken, it wasn't clown face that scared us, but yours." I retorted. 

"Is that so?" He had smirked on his face, as he steps closer. I didn't step back and looked into his eyes, "Yes!"

"What about now?" He took another step closer, the back of my hand could feel the soft material of his tux. "Are you still scared of this face?" 

I couldn't reply, not because I don't know what to say but his eyes. They are so captivating, the usual gray color had become the rim around the dilated black iris. His eyes traveled down to my lips as he involuntary wet his lower lip. My eyes observed every movement of his like a hawk.

"We should get going." I said.

"We should." he replied, but neither of us makes a move. 

After a couple of seconds, which more felt like minutes have passed, his phone rang. We both jerked back with a sudden intrusion. He pulled out his phone and answered. 

"Yes?...We are on our way..fuck off!..whatever." 

"That was Lucus. We really need to get going, the event had already started." He replied to my questionable look. 

"Just give me a moment." I replied and went to my room to pick my clutch. Giving one last look at my reflection, "Beautiful and chin up." 

I met Zac at the door. After locking the door we made our way towards the car.

The event was on full swing when we made our entrance. The decor was a top knot, and paps were gathered around the entrance. We greeted a few people at the foyer, before entering the main hall.  

"There they are." We walked towards the group at the center. Lucus was the first to notice us, "Wow, Hera! You look beautiful." he commented and kissed my cheeks.

"Thank you, you don't look bad yourself." He was wearing a blue suit, with a matching tie.

"You are going to raise the bar at the bidding. You are still up for it, right?" Lucus asked, to which I nodded. "Great, I will inform you when it starts."

 I felt the light rub of fingers on my back, I turned my head to see Zac greeting Ben, with his arm around me. After greeting everyone in the group, we made rounds. Zac had introduced high dignitaries in show biz, investors, and business person. With every person we met, they happen to know him. He had surely set his foot in the field very well, I couldn't help but feel so proud of him. 

I steal a glance at him, as he talks to some investors. He is successful, not in sense of money but the trust and respect he has gained from people. What I have observed he is a gentleman and cares for his family. Not to forget, a very good looking one.

'What are doing Hera, fantasizing about Zachary Deighton?'

  I mentally shook my head and focused back. Zachary was looking at me with a raised brow, I furrowed my brow in 'What?'. Before he could reply, there was a tap on my shoulder.

"Miss McQueen?" The organizer was standing with a clipboard in his hand and Bluetooth in his ear. 

"Yes?" 

"It's time. You are requested behind the stage."

**********

Soooo...

I have nothing else to say. Hit the comment box if you got something.

Love 

db